Second and Third Grades

In Second and Third Grade, children are strengthening and expanding their reading and writing skills. Fluency and comprehension are key focus areas as children move from learning to read, to reading to learn. Children continue to use a variety of symbolic languages to communicate their ideas and feelings as they construct meaning in all curricular domains.

Children's experiences in mathematics and science support their abilities as creative problem solvers and critical thinkers. Numerical operations that describe relationships such as pattern, measurement, and seriation are now being represented in algebraic formulas and applied to practical problem solving.

Cursiosity and creative experimentation drive all learning and our goal at Ochoa is to create on-going opportunities for this to happen. Science projects involve asking good questions that lead children to analyze, synthesize and evaluate the interconnectedness of the world around them.

Our focus is on inquiry and project work that draws on children's interests and prior knowledge. Our expectation is that learning will deepen and skills will grow stronger through a process of discovery and research. Teachers consider themselves as co-learners and collaborators with children and their families.

We recognize that children thrive in social environments that create safety, healthy relationships, and a strong sense of community. Morning meetings happen daily, children work in small groups and every child will have the opportunity to contribute to the care of each other and to the classroom.

Families are welcomed as partners in their children's school experience. Our relationship and collaboration will begin with home-visits and your visits to the classroom.